A mother tragically passed away in her overheated apartment after the housing authority allegedly neglected to repair her air conditioning. She had told her son, “I have suffered all weekend,” just hours before her death.
Shirlyne Johnson, a disabled resident, died in her central Denver high-rise apartment on May 23, 2023, following numerous complaints about the oppressive heat.
The medical examiner reported that the 68-year-old’s death was caused by cardiovascular disease, further worsened by the heat exposure, noting her body temperature was 111 degrees.
They estimated that Johnson’s apartment, in the 13-story Thomas Bean Towers, was a scorching 125 degrees after her AC unit blew hot air in on a 60 degree day.
Johnson’s heartbroken son, Shawn Pope, said she complained about the broken machine to her front desk on May 19, but maintenance never attended her unit.
She complained again on May 22, and an employee told her the super would fix the AC later that day. He revealed her final words that day to The Denver Post.
‘I have suffered all weekend, son,’ Johnson told her son. ‘I’m tired.’
On May 23, Pope tried to call his mother, but she didn’t pick up. Just before 9pm, he went to her flat with his wife to check on her, but there was no answer.
Disabled resident Shirlyne Johnson (pictured) passed away at her apartment in a central Denver high-rise on May 23, 2023, after complaining about the temperature several times
Investigators estimated that Johnson’s apartment, in the 13-story Thomas Bean Towers (pictured), was a scorching 125 degrees after her AC unit blew hot air in during a 60 degree day
A maintenance man let the couple in, and they were confronted with a blast of hot air. They found Johnson dead in just her underwear, lying on her bed.
Johnson’s children, Pope and his sister Latrisse Johnson, have since launched a lawsuit in Colorado court accusing the Denver Housing Authority of neglect.
‘My mother didn’t have to go this way,’ Latrisse Johnson told the Post. ‘I need accountability for her death.’
DailyMail.com has contacted the housing authority for comment.
Thomas Bean Towers serves low-income elderly adults, and people with disabilities.
Johnson was disabled – she suffered from chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and rheumatoid arthritis, among other health issues.
According to the Post, she was not the first person to die at Thomas Bean Towers due to overheating.
Another woman, Diann Cooper Williams, also died at the age of 66 in the 189-unit block on March 11, 2019 amid similar circumstances.
Williams died after the housing authority installed a humidifier as contractors fixed a water leak, and the heat soared to around 116 degrees.
Johnson’s heartbroken son, Shawn Pope, said she complained about the broken machine to her front desk on May 19, but maintenance never attended her unit.
Medical examiners determined that she died as a result of environmental exposure due to hyperthermia – also known as heat stroke – with contributions of cardiovascular disease and a recent flu infection.
City officials investigated the deaths and found that the Denver Housing Authority failed to identify what contributed to the first death, or make any changes to prevent future tragedies unfolding.
The building has also been troubled by another health issue – an outbreak of Legionnaires’ Disease, a severe lung infection, spread through the units later in 2023.
A public investigation found that the Denver Housing Authority again did not act quickly to resolve this horrific issue.
The agency told the Post in a statement that it ‘takes resident well-being seriously and it is always our top priority.’
